Floor-surfacing machine.



J. HERB, L. H. WOOD & S. W. HEATON.

FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.28, 190s. RENEWED AUG 5, 1911.

1,009,245 Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

6 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

[NI/EN TORS I 511mm 6. I W Alfornq J. HERB, L. H. WOOD & S. W. HEATON. FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2a, 1906. RENEWED AUG. 5, 1911.

1,009,245. Patented N0v.21, 1911.

6SHEETSSHEET 2.

- WIT/V5 f/VVE/VTORS zf -fia JIM/1 Herr C. 61 QM/HQ I By Vwgjmmm J. HERB, L. H. WOOD & S. W. HEATON.

FLOOR SURPACING MAOEINE. APPLICATION FILED BEPT128, 190s. RENEWED Am 5, 1911.

1,009,245, Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q a on *3 q k J. HERB, L. H. WOOD 8;: S. W. HEATON. FLOOR SURFAGING MACHINE APPLI OATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1906. RENEWED AUG 5, 1911. 1,009,245

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

INVENTORS JM/i? Herr [4.5mm

SEEM/*0 Altorney J. HERB, L. H. WOOD 6; S. W. HEATON.

- FLOOR SURPAOING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SBPT.28, 1906. RENEWED AUG- 5, 1911.

1,0092%. Patented Nov.21, 1911.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

[NVE/VTORS John Herr Allarney J. HERR, H. WOOD & S. W. HEATGN. FLOOR SURPACING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEP'ILZB, 1906. RENEWED AUG 5, 1911.

1 09,245. Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

6SHEETSSHEET6.

L/WW Alt'amey UNITED STATEd PATENT JOHN HERB, LIONEL HIRST W001), AND SAMUEL WILSON HEATON, OF PHILADELPHIA,

. PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

Application filed September 28, 1906, Serial No. 336,573. Renewed August 5, 1911. Serial No. 642,493.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN HERB, LIONEL Hnzs'r W001), and SAMUEL WILSON HEATON, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor-Surfacing Machines, of-which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to means for surfacing floors, and similar work, including such processes as smoothing the floor by abrading, sand papering or otherwise removing the inequalities of the surface, or suchprocesses as polishing the floor or other surface with or without the addition of wax, or a filler, or other like materials.

The machine hereinafter described comprises a roll for. acting on the floor, hereinafter termed the abrading roll, although it will be understood that this roll may be usefully employed for polishing or otherwise than strictly as an abrading roll; a carriage on which the roll is mounted or to which it is' connected by means which allow the ready lifting of the roll from the floor; a motor of suitable character, for instance an electric motor, on the carriage and arranged to rotate the abrading roll, supporting .wheels for the carriage having preferably a connection with the motor whereby the carriage may be propelled; and an exhaust fan for withdrawing into a receptacle the fibrous or other material which is removed from the floor.

The invention consists in the parts and combinations, thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, we have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting our improvements, in their useful applications to the particular construction which is illustrated for the purpose of example.

In said drawings-Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a floor surfacing machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with the motor and fanremoved. Fig. 3 is a front view, with the fan duct and hood removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view on a larger scale, through the propelling mechanism. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the abrading roll. Fig. 6 is an end view of the abrading roll. Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views of the jaws of the abrading roll. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clutch of the propelling mechanism. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of another form of abrading roll, and its appurtenances. Fig. 11 is an end view of the roll shown in Fig. 10, opened. Figs. 12 ant-1 13 are, respectively, a side and front view of one of the pivot-pieces of the abrading roll frame. Fig. 14 is an end view of one of the abrading roll bearings, open. Fig. 15 is a side view showing the lower ends of the handle bars and contiguous'parts.

Referring to the dtawings, 1 is a frame or carriage comprising side bars 2, a rear cross bar 3, anintermediate cross bar 4 and a front cross bar 5, these parts being of steel or cast metal and cast in one piece or secured together by bolts or other means.

6 indicates the motor, here shown as an electric motor, although it will be understood thata compressed air motor or other power device may be employed, the frame or stand 7 of which is securely attached on the upper side of the carriage 1, preferably by being bolted to the cross bars 3 and 4.

8 is the shaft of the motor, from which the abrading roll is driven, and also the exhaust fan and the propelling mechanism when these two ap liances are embodied in the machine. It Wlll be understood that the invention comprises novel features irrespec tive of the exhaust fan and such propelling mechanism.

9 is the motor pulley from which the abrading roll is driven by a belt 10. 11 is another motor pulley from which the exhaust fan is driven by a belt 12.

13 is a worm fixed on the shaft 8 and arranged to engage with a worm gear 14. on a more or less vertical shaft 15. 1'6 isaworm fixed on the lower end of said shaft and engaging with a worm wheel 17 mounted on V the shaft 18 of the supporting wheels 20.

These wheels are preferably arranged at or near the rear end of the machine and the shaft 18 carries that portion of the frame 1 through the medium of suitable journal boxes 21. The supporting wheels 20 are fixed on the shaft 18 by set screws 22.

Referring especially to Fig. 9, 23 is a sleeve fixed on the shaft 18 and 24 is a clutch member which is slidable on the sleeve 23, but otherwise engages and rotates with the sleeve and shaft. The outer end of the sleeve 23 serves as the mounting or journal for the worm gear 17, the interior of said gear being formed as a friction clutch member to cotiperate with the clutch member 24. 25 is-a collar fixed on the shaft 18 by a screw 26 and serving to confine the gear 17 against the action. ofthe other clutch member. 27 is a grooved collar slidable on the shaft 18 and connected by links 28 and levers 29, in a known manner, with the clutch member 24, sothat the sliding of the collar 27 will engage or release the described clutch and consequently connect the propelling gear with the shaft 18, or disconnect the same. 30 is a hand lever extending upward and rearwardly to a point convenient for manipulation, pivotally mounted at 31 on a frame bracket 19 and having a yoke. 32 which embraces the collar 27, the yoke being engaged with the groove of the collar by means of studs 33. Near the upper part of the lever is a notched plate 34 which serves as a support for the lever and to hold the same in the desired position. The rest or notched plate 34 is or may be attached to the upper bearing 35 of the shaft 15, this bear-' mg being connected with the motor frame. The lower bearing of said shaft is shown at 36 and is attached to any suitable fixed means of support.

37 indicates the abrading roll mounted on ashaft 88. The said shaft is mounted so as to rotate in boxes 41, 42, one at each side of the machine, each of which boxes is formed in two parts hinged together at 39, as indicated in Fig. 14. The rear part 41 of the boxis fixed to an arm 40, there being one of these arms at each side of the machine extending rearwardly and upwardly as shown. The hinged portion 42 of the box is adapted to be clamped in placeby a nut 43 on a screw stud 44. This stud is fixed in the part 42 and is adapted to enter a slot 45 in the top plate 46, after which the screwing down of the nut 43 will secure the box portion and roll journal in place. But the slot 45 may be dispensed with and a bolt screwed through the plate 46 into the part 42 as seen in Fig. 10. At the front of each box is attached a buffer 47 of rubber or other suitable material to keep the machine from a to or forms a part of the arm 40. At their upper ends the arms 40 are pivotally connected with slotted brackets '48, the bot-tom plates 49 of which are securely bolted to the bars 4 and 5 of the carriage, or to the side bars thereof, the arrangement being such that the arms 40 constitute a frame, movably connected with the carriage, which may swing upward and downward carrying with for that purpose.

it the abrading roll. Each of the arms 40 has a pivot or journal 51 relative to which the arm 40 may be adjusted by a screw 52 to regulate'the tension of the motor belt 10, and the said pivot 51 may be adjusted upward or downward in the slot 58 of the bracket 48, as may. be required, according to the size of the motor which is employed. The arms 40 are to a slight degree movable independently of each other, the journal of the abrading roll having a looseness of about one thirty-second of an inch in its bearings, thereby allowing the roll to conform to portions of the floor which are not level.

'54 indicates an adjusting bar, the forward end of which slides in a bearing 55 on the bracket48, and is adapted to bear against the rear lower side of the arm 40. The hearing 55 is vertically adjustable on the bracket 48 by means of a slot 58 in the bearing and a bolt 56 passing through the slot and screwing into the bracket.

At the rear part of the machine is provided a controlling handle for manipulating or steering the machine, or for propelling the same when the motor is not used This handle consists of side bars 57 connected together at the top by any suitable cross bar, which may serve as a i handle, andmounted at their lower ends on the outer portions 20 of the shaft bearings 21. At a point'below said shaft each side -bar 57 is connected by a pivot bolt 59 with the lower rear end of the adjusting bar 54 (Figs. 2 and 15).

It will be understood that the adjusting bar' 54, with its actuating and guiding means above described is provided at each side of the machine. The arrangement is such that when it is desired for any purpose that the abrading roll shall not touch 'or operate upon the floor, the handle bars 57 are depressed below their normal position, thereby thrusting forward the bars 54 in their guides or bearings 55 and engaging and lifting the frame consist-ing of the parts 40, which frame turns freely on its pivots'51.

The I abrading roll consists of heads 60 mounted loosely on the shaft 38, which heads are united'by a hollow metal cylinder 61 having a longitudinal, but somewhat diagon'al slot 62 extending from end to end of the cylinder. The cylinder and heads are united by screws 63. Within the cylinder .are arranged a clamping jaw 64 fixed "on the shaft 38 by means of bearings 65 and set screws 66, and an opposing jaw 67 which is mounted loosely on the shaft 38-by means of bearings 68. The said bearings 65 and 68 are provided with arms 69 and 70 which are normally pressed apart by springs 71 encircling the shaft 38. The arms 69 are connected by a longitudinal bar 73 and the arms 70 are connected by a similar longitudinal bar 7 1. The springs 71 engage these bars by their ends 71'. The jaw 64 is or may be provided with points 76 to more firmly engage the abrading material which. is passed around the cylinder 61, preferably over a suitably cylindrical pad, and has .its ends passed through the slot 62. Due end of the abrading material, for instance sand paper, is passed between theinner surface of the shell 61 and the edge of longitudinal bar 78, which bar is pivotally mounted at 7 9 in the heads of the roll'and acts as a pawl or dog to prevent the withdrawal of the abrading material, unless the same is released by pressure of the finger on an arm 80 which is connected wit-h the bar 78. The other end of the abrading material is passed between the jaws 64 and 67, where it is tightly held by the aid of the points 76,- the said jaws having been first spread apart by pressin apart, by a wedge-like tool, or otherwise, th ends 77 of the jaw bars, which bars extend for the purpose through openings 81 in the heads of. the roll. The roll is not connected with its shaft except through the medium of the abrading material, and the first action of the roll is to take up any slack that may exist in such material, the tendency of the jaws 6a and 67 being to move away from the slot 62 and stretch the material tightly around the roll. We provide for securing any slack thus taken up by means of a pawl 82 which is pivotally mounted at 83 on one of the bar ends 77 (Fig. 6), which pawl engages with a ratchet 84c fixed on the head of the roll. Whilethe abradin roll is being revolved, it is highly desira le to communicate a short longitudinal reciprocating motion to the same, and a simple and efficient means of improved construct-ion is provided for this purpose.

85 is an oscillating bar pivotally mounted at 86 on a bracket 87 attached to the main frame. The rear end of this bar is. provided with a yoke 88 which embraces an eccentric 89 on the propelling shaft 15. Such eccentric may be attached to the shaft, but it is preferred to form the eccentric by cutting away a little of the shaft, as seen in Fig. 2. At its forward end the bar 85 carries a finger 90 engaging a slotted collar 91. attached to the shaft 38. This collar may be formed on the pulley91' by which the shaft 38 is revolved. In order to provide for the movement or adjustment of the abrading roll forward or backward, the finger 90 is made adjustable on the bar 85, as by means of longitudinal sliding between the parts 92 of the split ends of the bar, which parts may be compressed on the finger to clamp the same by a ring 93 screwed or driven on to the endof the bar 85.

Each of the pivots 51 on which the roll frame swings,'fits in a pivot-piece 4:7, and also fits in a similar pivot-piece 48, the latter being fitted in the slot 53 of the bracket 48. One of such pivot-pieces is shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The two of such pieces,

forming a pair may turn relative to each tical slot of the bracket 48 by the screw 52.

92' indicates the exhaust fan, the journal 93 of which has fixed on it a small belt pulley 94 engaged by the motor belt 12. The journal 93 is mounted in bearings 95 formed on a bracket 96. The fan casing 96 is attached to and supported by an arm 97 of the said bracket. The foot plate 98 of the bracket is bolted to the cross bar 5 of the carriage.

99 is the delivery duct of the fan around which may be fastened the mouth of a bag or other suitable receptacle for the dust.

100 is a duct leading to the eye of the fan caslng from a hood 101, which latter is arranged slightly above, and so as to more or less completely inclose, the abrading roll, and confine the dust where it will beacted upon by the draft fiom the fan and drawn through the blast apparatus for deposit in the bag. Interposed in the duct 100, which is made 1 n two separate parts, is a flexible duct portion 108, which may be of rubber or leather, or other suitable material. This allows the necessary movement of the abrad lng roll frame and the hood relative to the upper fixed portion of the duct and the fan. The hood 101 extends from side to side of the machine, enveloping the ends of the abrading roll sufiiciently for the purposes above described.

102 is a transverse gage roller arranged to bear on the floor near the abrading roll. It extends for substantially the length of the abradin roll and is carried in end bearings 103, which bearings are independently adjustable vertically on the arms 40 by means of vertical screws 104, which latter may be secured in position by jam nuts 105. This roll acts as a gage to determine the degree of ressure, on or engagement with the floor whlch the abrading roll shall have, and con sequently the depth of cut of the latter. The journals of the roll 102 have a slight looseness in their bearings 103, so as not to prevent the ends of the abrading roll from having a little independent vertical movement when required by variations in level of the floor.

It is preferred. to further support the forward part of the carriage 1, or to suppor the same independently of the abrading roll, and for this purpose two caster wheels 106 are provided which are mounted on the under side of the cross bar 5 by ball-bearing connections 107.

It will be evident from the construction above described, of the bearings for the shaft of the abrading roll, that it is a very simple operation to remove one shaft with its roll and abrading material and substitute in the machine another shaft havinga roll of dif ferent weight, or provided with coarser or finer abrading material, or provided with wire brushes for removing varnish from a floor, or provided with buffing means for wiping or polishing the floor, or for dressing the same with wax or any desired sub stance.

In-Figs. 10 and 11 is shown what is termed an extension roll for operating on those portions of a floor which are contiguous to the walls. Such abrading roll 109 is fixed on the end of its shaft 38, outside of the shaft bearing so as to extend beyond the side of the frame and parts carried thereby. This extension roll is or may be of a known form, the parts of which are hinged together, as shown in Fig. 11, so that they may be separated partially for the clamping of the abrading material. The shaft of such a projecting roll requires to be weighted and balanced in order that it may run properly athigh speeds. 110 is a weight fixed at or near the middle of the shaft 38 to effect this purpose.

It will be understood that, except so far as concerns improvements in the abrading roll, any known form of abrading roll may be employed in place of the roll 37. The invention also-contemplates the weighting of the abrading roll as may be found desired, otherwise than by exchanging a roll of one weight for a roll of another weight. Thus weights may be appliedto the arms 40 or to the hood 101.

The carriage control handle 57 may be used to both propel and guide the machine over the floor. If the machine be motor propelled, as illustrated, the handle may be used mainly or wholly to guide the machine. Ordinarily the machine is propelled by the motor in operating on long open stretches of floor, and is conveniently propelled by the handle in working on particular parts of a floor, as in corners or around obstacles.

The fan, duct and hood may be readily removed in cases where it is not necessary to collect the dust produced by the operation of the machine.

111 is an additional supporting bracket attached to the carriage for the reciprocating bar 85.

It will be understood that a springor spring-bar, of known or improved form, may be employed in place of the pawl bar 78 to hold the abrading material.

Whatis claimed is:

1. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, a frame movably connected with the carriage, a surfacing roll mounted to revolve in the said frame, a carriage guiding handle movably connected with the carriage and arranged for manipulation by a person walking on the floor, and adjusting means at each side of the frame connected with the handle, disconnected with the frame and'arranged to push upward at the under side of the frame at points forward of the connections uniting the frame and carriage to elevate the latter and to leave the frame free when the roll is lowered and the adjusting means are withdrawn, substantially as set forth.

2. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, a frame movably connected with the carriage, a surfacing roll mounted to revolve in the said frame, adjusting means disconnected with the frame and arranged to push upward at the under side of the frame and to leave the frame free when the adjusting means are withdrawn, guides for the adjusting means, and a machine-guiding lever handle extending rearwardly from the machine and having an upward and downward movement for actuating the adjusting means, substantially as set forth. I

3. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of'a carriage, a frame movably connected with the carriage and comprising two independently movable parts or arms one at each side of the carriage and extending forward from their points of connec tion with the carriage, a. surfacing roll mounted to revolve in the said frame, a carriage controlling handle pivotally connected with the carriage upon a horizontal transverse axis, and adjusting bars operated by the said handle disconnected with and bearing upward against the said two parts of the frame and operating to lift the movable frame relative to the carriage and to leave it free when the adjusting bars are withdrawn from the frame, substantially as set forth.

4. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, having upwardly extending members or brackets, a movable frame having an upwardly and downwardly adjustable pivot connection with the said brackets, a surfacing roll mounted to revolve in the said frame, a motor on'the carriage adapted to actuate the roll, and means for turning the movable frame at will on its pivot to change the position ofthe roll relative to the carriage, substantially as set forth.

5. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage having upwardly extending slotted arms or brackets 48, a movable frame having supporting arms 40, a pivotal connection between the said arms and brackets, a surfacing roll mounted to revolve in the movable frame, the adjusting bars 54, guides for the same, a carriage controlling handle having a pivotal connection with the carriage and with the said adiust- "bination of j. a-"carriage having propelling wheels, a frame pivotally connected with the. carriage and extending forwardly from its .pivot axis to a point beyond the front of .the carriage, a surfacing roll mounted to re-.

volve in the forward part of the said frame, a carriage guiding handle pivotally con nected with. the carriage, extending rearwardly from its pivot axis. and having means whereby it may raise and lower the said frame, the frame being free at each side to rise independently of the other side and independently of the handle, a motor and shaft therefor on, the carriage having shaft of the propelling wheels, aworm on the shaft of the motor, a worm wheel engaging said worm, a shaft carrying said worm wheel and extending downward to near the shaft of the propelling wheels, a worm on the lower end of the downwardly extending shaft, and a worm wheel engaged by the latter worm and connected with the propelling wheels, sub'stantially as set forth.

7 In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, a motor thereon, an abrading roll, slotted arms carrying"the abrading roll, slotted brackets on the carriage, pivot pieces adjustable in the slots of the arms and of the brackets, and pivots uniting the pivot pieces.

8. In a floor'surfacing machine the combination of a carriage, a motor thereon, an abrading roll arranged to be driven by the motor, a frame carrying the roll and pivotally connected with the carriage, and a gage roll on said frame and adjustablethereon.

9. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, independent arms pivotally connected with the carriage, an abrading roll loosely journaled in the said arms, a gage roll having its journals loosely connected with said arms, said gage roll extending substantially from end to end of the abrading roll, and means for rotating the roll.

10. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, independent arms pivotally connected with the carriage, an abrading roll loosely journaled in the said arms, and a gage roll loosely journaled in the said arms.

11. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, an abrading roll movably connected with the carriage to be raised and lowered, a motor on the carriage arranged to rotate the roll, a fan on the carriage, and a two part duct'le'ading from the roll to the fan, one part of the duct being vertically movable with the roll relative to the other part of the duct.

12. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, a frame pivotally connected therewith for the raising and lowering of the abrading roll, an abrading ,roll rotary and laterally'movablein such frame, mechanism on the carriage for rotating the roll, mechanism on the carriage for reciprocating the roll longitudinally, and a connection between the reciprocating mechanism and the roll which is maintained during the vertical movement of the roll.

13. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, a motor thereon having means for propelling the carriage comprising an upwardly and downwardly ex-- tending shaft, an eccentric onthe said shaft, a pivoted lever operated by the eccentric, a frame pivotally connected with the carriage, an abrading roll mounted on said frame, and means whereby the pivoted lever is connected with the abrading roll to reciprocate the same.

14. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, a motor thereon, an abrading roll, means for adjusting'the roll relative to the carriage, the oscillating lever mounted on the carriage, an extensible finger on the lever, and means whereby the finger is connected with the roll to reciprocate the same.

15. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, a motor thereon, a frame comprising two arms pivoted to the carriage and vertically movable independently of each other, an abrading roll and shaft, the said shaft having bearings in the said arms and being vertically movable in .the said bearings to allow independent vertical movement of the said arms, and an adjus'ting means for the said arms arranged to lift the same and to leave thearms free relative to each other and to the said adjusting means when the latter is withdrawn from the arms, substantially as set forth.

16. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, a motor thereon, a frame pivotally connected with the carriage, a surfacing roll mounted to revolve in the forward part of the said frame, the pivotal axis of the frame being near to a line extending from the axis of the roll to the axis of the motor and the frame being extended forward and downward from its pivotal axis, a carriage handle movably connected ,with the carriage and arranged for manipulation by a person walking on the floor, and

connections between the handle and the said frame whereby the movement of the handle may elevate or lower the forward part of the said frame and the surfacing roll, such connections allowing the two sides of the said frame to move upward independently of the handle and independently of each other, substantially as set forth.

17. In a floor surfacing machine, the combination of a carriage, a motor thereon, a frame pivotally connected with the carriage .and extending forwardly from its pivot axis, a surfacing roll mounted to revolve in the forward part of the said frame, and a carriage guiding handle pivotally connected with the can'iage, extending rearwardly from its pivot axis and having means whereby it may raise and lower the said frame,

the frame being free at each side ,to rise independently of the other side and independently of the handle, substantially as set forth.

journals smaller than and loosely mounted in bearings on the forward part of thesaid frame to leave the "two sides ofthe'frame' independently movable as described, and a the frame being free at each side'to rise independently of the saidhandl'e, substantially as set forth. a 1

In testimony whereof we afiix o'ur'si'gnatures in presence of two'wit-nesses.

JOHN HERB. a 4 LIONEL HIRST WOO 1 SAMUEL WILSON HEATON.

Witnesses:- I i WILLIAM E. CHAPMAN, ROBERT Moon; a 

